Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Dispelling the Myths

With all the myths circulating about breast cancer, you may be unsure what to believe. Learn the facts.

Knowledge is one of our best weapons in the fight against breast cancer. Unfortunately, a lot of bad information is still out there. To know your risks, it's important to recognize myths.

Myth: Only women get breast cancer.

Fact: Men can get breast cancer, too, but it's rare. They account for less than 1 percent of all occurrences. Still, the American Cancer Society estimates that about 2,000 American men get breast cancer each year. It's most common in men ages 60 or older, but younger men can get it, too.

Myth: Young women don't get breast cancer.

Fact: Breast cancer usually happens after menopause, but younger women can still get it. More than 178,000 women develop the disease each year. That includes more than 11,000 women under age 40.

Myth: Breast cancer is caused by injury to the breast.

Fact: At times, after an injury, a woman may be found to have a tumor. That doesn't mean the injury caused the tumor. There is no known link between cancer and injury. In rare cases, severe injuries might increase the risk of cancer. For example, scars from chemical burns might play a role in the development of skin cancer.

Myth: Antiperspirants cause breast cancer.

Fact: This urban legend has been around since the early days of the Internet. You may have read e-mails warning you about a connection between cancer and deodorants. There is no research to back these claims.

Myth: If you have a family history of breast cancer, you will develop the disease.

Fact: You may be at higher risk if you have a family history of breast cancer. However, many women who have a family history of breast cancer never develop it. Others are diagnosed with breast cancer, but have no family history. Other risk factors include age and having had breast cancer in the past. Talk to your doctor about your risks.

The Bottom Line

When in doubt, check it out. Learn to spot breast cancer myths. These tips can help:

• Look for evidence. When you hear a claim, look for medical research to back it up. Don't read too much into a single study without finding other studies to back it up.
• Find credible sources. Use reliable sources to check out cancer claims. Try government agencies or other credible organizations. The National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society are good places to start. Stay away from anyone selling cancer "cures."
• Ask your doctor. Talk to your doctor about your risk factors and ways to prevent disease. Ask when you should have mammograms and other important screenings.

MOM and POP Screenings

Mobile On-site Mammography, otherwise known as the MOM Mobile, has provided on-site mammography services throughout the district since 2004. The MPS-WIN Program is proud to offer this service again this year. On-site screenings will occur in November and April. See the schedule, and make your appointment today by calling (480) 967-3767.

Prostate On-site Project is a mobile medical screening service that travels throughout Arizona offering prostate exams for the early detection of prostate cancer. This November, POP will make several stops to offer screenings to men throughout the district. See the schedule, and make your appointment today by calling (480) 964-3013.

The Flu Ends With U

The 2010-11 flu season is upon us. Stay healthy, and avoid the flu by making sure you are immunized. All MPS employees can receive the flu shot this year at no cost! Even if you don’t have insurance coverage through the district or UnitedHealthcare, please take advantage of this year’s free flu shot clinics.  

The vaccine will protect against three different flu viruses: H3N2, influenza B and the H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season.

See the schedule, and visit our online Health Center for more information on this year’s flu season.

What’s Happening at the Y?

Lift Way Beyond Your Limits – BODYPUMP™

Challenge yourself with the original barbell class that strengthens and tones your entire body. BODYPUMP™ is designed to improve strength and endurance in the major muscle groups and, in doing so, burn calories. BODYPUMP™ can help you to:

• Burn between 250 and 600 calories per class (depending on your effort).
• Improve strength.
• Shape and tone muscles.
• Improve bone density (helps ward off osteoporosis).

This one-hour class includes a workout of all the major muscle groups, plus a warm‐up and cool-down. Each exercise lasts the length of one track of music (which is about four to five minutes), with pauses between tracks used to alter weight levels. Every exercise ends with a well-deserved stretch to help with muscle recovery.

Because you choose your weights and control your workload, this class is ideal for all levels. Bring your BODYPUMP™ pass, and get a workout that your body will be thankful for! We recommend that you bring water to class and arrive at least 10 minutes early. Classes:

• 5:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday at Ross Farnsworth East Valley Family YMCA
• 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, and 10:30 a.m. Saturday, at Mesa Family YMCA

Courtesy of the Mesa Family and Ross Farnsworth East Valley Family YMCA

Print and present your free BODYPUMP™ pass in October (one coupon per employee per location).

Try the Y for Free

Here is your free two-week pass to the YMCA.

Don’t forget about the great rate being offered to MPS Employees. The No-Joining-Fee offer has been extended until Dec. 31.

Special Event Just for MPS Employees 

Mark your calendar, and plan to stop by the Mesa Family YMCA, at 207 N. Mesa Drive, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23. Come join us for a tour and lots of activities!

• Free fitness classes
• Bounce House for the kids
• Open swim
• Rock climbing
• Free massages
• Free dental screenings and fluoride rinses for all

Download the flier for details on this special event.

Winner’s Circle Seminars

Our October Winner’s Circle Wellness Seminars filled up fast, and there are only a few spaces left in our November seminars. For complete descriptions and to register for the November Winner’s Circle Seminars, visit our Wellness website. Seminars:

Shock the Body: Making the Most of Your Exercise Routine
4:30-5:30 p.m. Nov.10
Administrative Services Center, 63 E. Main St., Mesa, 3rd floor, Room 301A

Navigating Your Health
4:30-5:30 p.m. Nov. 16
Curriculum Services Center, 549 N. Stapley Drive, Mesa, Building 1, PC Lab

Mood and Food
4:30-5:50 p.m. Nov. 30
Administrative Services Center, 63 E. Main St., Mesa, 3rd floor, Room 301A


Swimming: A Lifelong Sport

Swimming is the third most popular sport in the U.S. It's a good way to get regular aerobic physical activity.

Just two and a half hours per week of aerobic physical activity, such as swimming, bicycling or running, can decrease the risk of chronic illnesses. This can also lead to improved health for people with diabetes and heart disease.

Swimmers have about half the risk of death compared with inactive people. People report enjoying water-based exercise more than exercising on land. They can also exercise longer in water than on land without increased effort or joint or muscle pain. 

The Mesa Aquatics Club wants to get you swimming. The club offers a discount rate for Mesa Public Schools employees. Workouts are at the Kino Junior High pool, 848 N. Horne, Mesa.

About the Mesa Aquatics Club

The Mesa Aquatics Club is a family-oriented organization dedicated to producing world-class citizen-athletes of all ages through education, innovation, support, hard work and fun.

The Age Group Program is for young children who need an introduction to the strokes, technique and drills, and the thrill of meeting new friends and being part of a team. The Senior Team comprises high-school-age swimmers who are focused a bit more on competition, but still want an emphasis on camaraderie and love of the sport. All groups are encouraged to participate in local meets, but it is not a requirement.

A Masters Swimming Program is for adults from 18 years old to 118 years old! This group has every level of ability, from former Olympians to adults who have never had a formal swim lesson. It is an upbeat group of people who enjoy working out with others in a positive and fun environment. Here is more information on the Masters Team. 

Both the Age Group Program and the Masters Program offer a free trial week for anyone who wishes to check out the program firsthand. If you have questions about what Mesa Aquatics offers, please call Paul Smith, (602) 228-9739. More information is available at the Mesa Aquatics website.

Save the Date

Relay For Life of Mesa

Dobson High School
4 p.m.-6 a.m. April 16-17

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost and fight back against the disease.

At the relay, teams of people camp out and take turns walking or running around the track. Entertainment will be provided throughout the event. All proceeds will fund cancer research, programs and services for cancer patients and their families.  

Are you a cancer survivor, or do you know a cancer survivor? We would like to invite you to participate in the Honorary Survivor's Lap and Dinner Reception at Relay for Life on April 16. Please register on our website. If you would like to form or join a team, make a donation or honor a loved one with a luminaria, please register on our website, or contact Heike Parks, (602) 703-6357.

2011 Phoenix Start! Heart Walk

Tempe Beach Park
8:30 a.m. Feb. 26

Start! Heart Walk celebrates those who have made lifestyle changes and encourages many more to take the pledge to live healthier lifestyles while raising the dollars needed to fund life-saving research and initiatives. We need your support. Join us this year. Bring your energy, your passion and your stories. Let your footsteps be heard!

If you would like to be a team captain for your school or department, please contact Kelly Kron, UnitedHealthcare wellness coordinator, (602) 954-3366, or e-mail kelly_kron@uhc.com. There will be a team captain meeting in early January.

Leftover Halloween Candy? Tips to Reduce the Stash

Halloween is almost here. Are you already dreading the incoming hoards of candy? In addition to the kids' supply, there's always a pile of leftovers that didn't get passed out. And there's also the battle with your own self-control. How often do you find yourself sneaking a hand into their candy jar? It's time for an action plan.

Let's face it. A few hundred empty calories a day isn't what you or your child needs. Never mind about what all that sugar is doing to your family's teeth. So what to do? If you have too much loot, why not start your own tradition of how to handle the leftovers? Here are some suggestions:

1. Dole it out slowly. Let your child pick 25 or so of his or her (or your) favorite pieces. Then dole these out a piece at a time for lunch or as an after-dinner treat for a week or two.
2. First indulge, then go cold turkey. Eat a reasonable amount that evening, and get rid of the rest.
3. Trade in. Let your kids enjoy a few pieces for a day or two. Then have them trade in the rest for a treat from the Great Pumpkin or Halloween Fairy, who will give them a special gift (modeling clay, new crayons, etc.) in exchange for their candy.
4. Pack the chocolate pieces and bars in plastic bags for the freezer. Use when baking cookies or decorating cupcakes.
5. Save some candy for other events. Think kids' birthday parties and other special occasions.
6. Recycle. If your kids come home with their stash on the early side, ask if they want to give out some themselves to kids later in the evening.
7. Send the candy to overseas troops.
8. Make candy creations. Consider using the candy (especially if it's stale or very hard) for fun arts and crafts, such as:

• Candy garlands or ornaments for the Christmas tree
• Mosaics
• Candy necklaces
• A holiday gingerbread house
• Holiday cards or gift-wrapping decorations

Candy Drive

The MPS-WIN! Wellness Program will sponsor a candy drive to benefit Packages From Home, which sends care packages to our United States armed services personnel. The drive will take place Nov. 1-5. Contact your school or department’s wellness captain for details.

If your school or department does not have a wellness captain and you would like to participate in the candy drive, please contact Kelly Kron, UnitedHealthcare wellness coordinator, at kelly_kron@uhc.com or at (602) 954-3366.

How To Register on myuhc.com®

By registering on myuhc.com, you can find the answers to your health and benefits questions and the information you need in one easy-to-use, convenient location online. Registration is quick and simple:

1. Go to myuhc.com.
2. Click the "Register Now" button.
3. Enter ID card information or your Social Security number and birth date as requested.
4. Enter your e-mail address, or sign up for a free e-mail account.
5. Choose a user name and password, then start using myuhc.com.

See what you can do on myuhc.com:

• Check past and current statements and claim status.
• Review eligibility, and look up benefits.
• Find a hospital or doctor, including UnitedHealth Premium® designated physicians.
• Print a temporary ID card, or request a replacement card.
• Compare hospitals in quality and cost at the procedure level.
• “Chat” with a nurse online in real-time.
• Take a health assessment, and participate in Health Coaching Programs.
• Learn about health conditions, symptoms and the latest treatment options.
• Use the Personal Health Record to organize health data and receive condition-specific information to organize your overall health.

Start managing your health care benefits online today at myuhc.com.

2010-11 MPS-WIN! Fall Calendar of Events

Oct. 12
Source4Women Online Seminar: Mood Busters and Instant Energizers

Oct. 25-Nov. 5
Employee Flu Shot Clinics

Nov. 1-5
Halloween Candy Drive benefiting Packages From Home

Nov. 10
Winner’s Circle Seminar: Shock the Body: Making the Most of Your Exercise Routine

Nov. 15-23  
Mammogram Screenings

Nov. 16
Winner’s Circle Seminar: Navigating Your Health

Nov. 15-23
Prostate Cancer Screenings

Nov. 18    
Great American Smoke-Out

Nov. 30       
Winner’s Circle Seminar: Mood and Food

Dec. 1      
Lose & Win Challenge Registration Begins

Wellness Newsletter is published for MPS employees by the Employee Benefits Department.

MORE INFORMATION
E-mail: kelly_kron@uhc.com

Phone: (602) 954-3366

Wellness website
Employee Benefits Department